Ireland's Six Nations opener against England can be a sling-shot to World Cup glory says Malcolm O'Kelly

Former Ireland lock Malcolm OKelly was joined by Marcus Horan and Shane Byrne to launch the Ireland v England Rugby Legends match taking place in the RDS on Friday, 1st February. All proceeds from this great event will be split among the My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Rugby Players Ireland Foundation, Restart Rugby, the IRFU Charitable Trust and Irish motor neurone charities. For tickets search #RugbyLegends or visit Ticketmaster. (Image: Matt Browne/Sportsfile)

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But those expectations have never been higher after last year’s Grand Slam success was followed by the series win in Australia and a November victory over New Zealand for Joe Schmidt’s men. “You can’t expect it every year,” he warned. “You just can’t win every match, it just doesn’t happen.

“You see it with Leinster, they’ve fallen off the odd game now. That’ll happen. They’ll lose games now that they won last year.

“It could be hunger, it could be the bounce of a ball – it can go either way.”

The 47-year-old added: “A World Cup is very difficult to come out on top in, only one team can do that.

“Previously it’s the teams that are very physical, very powerful that win – there can be a lot of collateral damage. You require a big squad.

“What’s great about the Irish situation is Joe’s been there before and fell foul of that, and I’d definitely be optimistic regarding the depth of our squad and in how we’re playing the game.

“We’re very much leading the way in how it should be played, whereas in previous World Cups, sometimes we think we know where we’re at and it turned out that a month’s preparation changes where the game goes.”

On the flip side though, O’Kelly then puts forward a theory as to why Ireland’s hopes could be scuppered.